Youngsters are preparing to take part in the Litter Less campaign

Youngsters from Mearns Primary eco committee who have previously taken part in the Litter Less campaign.

Published:15:00Sunday 31 January 2016

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Children and young people from across Scotland are readying themselves to participate in the 2016 international Litter Less campaign.

The initiative will see school pupils countrywide take their activities on local litter issues beyond the school gate and bring forward changes in their communities.

All Scottish schools are invited to sign up to the initiative. Upon registration they will receive a £300 grant and registered teachers will get the opportunity to participate in a new professional learning course.

The Litter Less campaign involves youngsters making significant environmental improvements in the places they love in their own villages, towns and cities - from playgrounds and local parks to beaches and community woodlands.

The annual campaign is organised in Scotland by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful on behalf of the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE) and sponsored by the Wrigley Company Foundation.

Keep Scotland Beautiful has been running the campaign for four years, and in that time almost 70 schools have participated.

Derek Robertson, chief executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “The Litter Less campaign has been particularly successful in encouraging Scottish children and young people to take a proactive interest in litter, littering behaviour and campaigns to reduce it.

“The Eco-Schools Scotland programme reaches more than 800,000 children and young people across the country and litter is a key theme of activity. Keep Scotland Beautiful is committed to supporting all of our teachers and educators, which is why we have developed a professional learning course on our Litter Less work.

“By supporting our teachers we believe we are helping our children and young people to develop the capabilities, skills and attributes required for learning, living and working in a changing world and a global context.”

The Litter Less campaign aims to help educate children on the issues surrounding litter and encourage them to make positive choices - whilst achieving a marked reduction in the global litter problem.

To register to take part in the Litter Less campaigns schools can sign up at ecoschools@keepscotlandbeautiful.org.

Further details on previous Litter Less activities can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/litterless